When people hear me talking about my healthy Lifestyle now, they might assume I’ve always lived this way. But that’s not the case at all. So, in all transparency, I thought I’d share what I did wrong.
Quote of the day: “Remain focused on the core problem, but explore a new line of attack. Persistence is not just about effort, but also strategy. Don’t merely try harder, try differently.” James Clear
In fact, I truly believe that I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been, and that’s saying something because I’m 60 years old.
Looking back, I’m not sure I would have done anything differently, even knowing what I know now.
Why?
Because I was a bit stubborn.
Yet some of what I did wrong was simply a product of the times. (or at least that’s my rationale)
This isn’t about regret. We all make decisions based on the information we have at the time. Plus, we have to give ourselves grace.
Hopefully, this is a reminder that it’s never too late to learn, adjust, and take better care of ourselves.
While I Love fashion and clothing content, I am more than just one-dimensional. Thus, I have talked about Health, my past, and many other things that might interest you:
–My reverse bucket list (brag list)
–The art of getting things done
–Date night ideas in Phoenix
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The best part is being part of my community, where we inspire and lift each other up.
I spent plenty of time in tanning beds, lying out in the sun with baby oil, and even tried a countless number of self-tanning lotions (including the spray tans at salons).
If you grew up in my generation, you probably remember when having a deep tan was considered healthy and attractive.
And that’s fine if you have melanin in your skin. I, however, do not.
It’s taken me years (and I mean A LONG TIME) to finally embrace my pale skin, and it’s been so freeing. I wrote about it years ago, and I thank my husband for helping me with that journey.
When I was younger, “the pill” was normal for sexually active women my age. I knew that I didn’t want to get pregnant while I was in college and dental school, so I took precautions.
However, I never researched ingredients. I never asked about long-term effects. And I certainly never considered how something might impact my body beyond its intended purpose.
Does that mean birth control was wrong for me? Not necessarily.
But I do wish I had been more curious and educated about what I was putting into my body. Today, I ask more questions, read more books/articles/information, and try to be a more informed participant in my healthcare decisions.
Granted, it is easier nowadays because there is a ton of medical information at our fingertips. Of course, weeding out what isn’t true is important.
If you grew up when I did, you probably remember the obsession with calories.
Everything was about calories in and calories out.
Exercise wasn’t about strength, mobility, heart health, Stress reduction, or Longevity. It was about earning your food and burning off what you ate.
And let’s not forget the popular workout mantra:
“No pain, no gain.”
Even today, I talk about what a shame it is that we didn’t learn about the nutrients in our food instead of the calories. Calories may tell you how much energy food contains, but nutrients determine how well your body actually functions.
And at this stage of the game, how our bodies function is everything.
When it comes to working out, I’ve also learned that bodies need a variety of exercises, including flexibility, strength, and aerobic activity.
I’ve talked before about being a sugar addict. I’m sure that I had blood sugar spikes all day long. And if that doesn’t seem bad to you, I hope you research how glucose spikes could be the foundation for almost all of the chronic illnesses we face in this day and age.
Now I’ve learned strategies that help me feel better and keep my energy more stable. One of the biggest changes has been eating fiber first, then protein, and then carbohydrates.
Insider detail: While I started eating better 10-15 years ago, reading the Glucose Revolution really changed everything.
The difference in how I feel is remarkable. If you’ve never felt good (meaning you always struggle with joint pain, digestive issues, etc), it might behoove you to think twice about how much protein and fiber are in your Diet compared to sugar and such.
This is something my cousin recently reminded me of and teased me about. She witnessed how clean we live now and reminded me how I used to buy the cheapest lotions, beauty products, and personal care items I could find.
In my defense, I was trying to manage my Money better after my original fiasco
These days, I finally realized that if I’m serious about my skin, I should be serious about the ingredients in my skincare (and makeup, and beauty products).
It’s one reason that I like to use the Yuka app.
Life comes with stress. Everyone knows that stress is part of life.
What I didn’t understand was that managing stress is a skill.
For years, I pushed through everything. I worried, I overcommitted, and I kept going even when I was exhausted.
Now I’ve learned that rest, boundaries, fresh air, movement, friendships, hobbies, and quiet moments all contribute to better health.
Stress may be unavoidable, but how we respond to it matters. (I bolded this because I believe this is powerful)
This may be one of the biggest lessons of all.
I grew up believing that strong people handled everything themselves. How silly is that?
What I’ve learned is that asking for help is not a weakness. It’s Wisdom. Most people LIKE to help others; therefore, they get a boost as well.
Whether it’s emotional support, professional guidance, or simply letting someone lend a hand, connection is part of being healthy, too.
Insider tip: I’d been divorced for over 20 years when a functional doctor asked me if I’d ever had counseling for my abusive Marriage. I hadn’t, but I finally did (via Zoom), and it made a world of difference.
I’m not saying I was a complete hot mess. There were a few healthy habits that stuck with me through the years.
Even when I was younger, I loved my Sleep.
In fact, our friends knew they would probably be kicked out around 9 p.m. because I would be getting ready for bed.
At the time, people laughed about it, but now we know how important sleep is for recovery, brain health, hormones, and overall well-being.
It makes me so happy to think that I did this right.
In my late 30s and early 40s, I became much more interested in ingredient labels.
That curiosity opened the door to learning about food, personal care products, and supplements.
The more I learned, the more intentional my choices became.
One of the positive influences in my health journey has been Rob. When we were Dating, he started having me take supplements, and that continues to this day. In fact, I’ve talked about the reasons to supplement, and our list changes often depending on what our body needs.
Like everything else, I think Education matters. Understanding why you’re taking something is just as important as taking it. And don’t forget to read the labels.
Insider tip: The brand of supplements is important, too. There can be a ton of controversy about whether the claims on the bottle are true.
Sometimes, we say it’s a crap shoot, but analyzing how you feel when you take or stop taking them is key.
We tend to use iHerb for most of our supplements because they are a closed supply chain and they don’t use third-party sellers.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that health isn’t about perfection.
It’s about learning, making better choices when you know better, and especially about giving yourself grace for the decisions you made years ago while still being open to change today.
I may have done a lot of things wrong in the past.
But thankfully, every year gives us another opportunity to do something right.
It’s not much different than how I discussed my good daily habits of 2025. I plan to continue evaluating what I am doing to decide if it’s helpful. I may add or take things out of my routine, as it’s ever-changing.
Change is the only constant, right? And even though there were many things that I did wrong, it’s nice to know that by changing them, I can change my health outcome.
Many photos used from Unsplash
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Jodie Filogomo is a retired cosmetic dentist and fashion blogger behind Jodie’s Touch of Style, where she has been helping women over 50 experiment with style in fun, creative ways for over 12 years.
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The post The Surprising Things: What I Did Wrong for My Health appeared first on Jodie’s Touch of Style.
